Soap-holder.



No. 757,688. PATENTED APR; 19, 1904:

J. s. ROAKE.

I SOAP HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED mm: 4. 1901. nsnnwnn SBPTI 11. 1903.

'm noun.

UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

JOHN S.'ROAK E, or nRookLYn NEW YORK.

SOAP-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,638, dated April19, 1904. i

Application filed June 4 ,1901 Renewed September 11, 1903. Serial No.172,823. No modelQ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN S. ROAKE. a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Soap- Holders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of holders especially designed forservice in lavatories and public toilet-rooms, in which the thisspecification;

Figure l is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing a portionof a basin and slabs with the improved holder in place. Fig. 2- is asection through the soap cake, showing the locking device in elevation.Fig. 2 is a sin1i-' dacv ew showlngfthe soap cake and its portion" ofthe'locking devlce alone.

partial section and elevation showing the looking device alone withitsparts separated.- It

is on a larger scale than the other figures. Fig.

4 is a corresponding face View of the key used in'efiectingtheseparati0n.- .Fig." 5 is an eleva tion of a portion ofthe rear face ofthe back slab, showing the manner of attaching thebracket. 4 3

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all thefigures'wliere they appear.

A is the'back slab, of slate or marble, as usual, or ofother material;supported on-the horizontal slab A, to-which isattached the basinA andwhich may be equipped with the usual suppiy and waste pipes,-faucets andplug. (Not shown.)

At a point in the back slab A above the basin and preferably on itscentral line where the curve of the basin approaches nearest the backslab is drilled a small hole a, extending through the slab. By means ofa drift or similar tools. narrow longitudinal groove 0,

Fig. 3 is a The bracket at its rear end is drilled transverselyandrcceives" a pin'B, ex-

tending outwardly on one side, adapted when the bracket is thrustthrough the hole a to pass freely along the groove 0', which should bedeep enough to accommodate it, and when the bracket is partially rotatedto engage and lie against the rear face of the slab and preventwithdrawah The pin is held in close contact by the pull exerted by thenut B against the opposite face of the slab.

To prevent withdrawal, by simply reversing the foregoing operation Iinsert a plug Z; of.

wood or other material, filling the groove and lying concealed behindthe nut B Thus filled it is impossible to withdraw the bracket withoutfirst drilling away the plug or other- 'wi'se destroying or removing it.The wall behindpre'vents forcing the plug inward sufliciently'to freethe groove. I

The locking device I) consists-0f two separate portions adapted whenproperly presented to each other to automatically engage. One oftheportions is shackled to the chain C and the other has in the soapcake, so that when locked the cake cannot be removed from the chainuntilso. far worn away as to allow access to the lock. v In thepreferred form, (shown in'Figs. 1. to 3. inclusive,) D is aheadreceiving the shackle C and having a flange D lying against the adjacentsurface of the cake M and a tubular extension D reaching into a cavityin the latter and carrying in its interiortwo spring-tongues l) withinwardlyprojecting lips D.

.D is a button having a flange D anchored in the soap cake by embeddingit during the process of manufacture at the bottom of the cylindricalcavity m, extending to the exterior of the cake and having a diametercorresponding-to that of the tubular extension D, which 35 I other metalfolded upon itself and secured in a larly at Z and adapted to forceapart the home.

spring-tongues D when they are thrust upon -itand be grasped by the lipsD engaging the undercutwhen thehead portion is pressed The conical shapeof the stud and the annular undercut allow the soap cake to be locked tothe head without requiring any special attention as to the relativepositions of the parts when presented to each other. Thus enga ed theparts cannot be separated and the soap cake will be securely heldagainst removal, though conveniently supported for use. The gravity ofthe chain and locking device with the cake causes the former to hangvertically, and as the line of suspension passes within the margin ofthe basin any water on the surface of the cake flowing to the lowestpoint will drop into the basin and not upon the'slab, thusreducingtheliability of the latter to become defaced or soiled.

While'any considerable bulk of the-soap remains the cake cannot beremoved, because the locking engagement is within it and hidden; butwhen the cake is worn away the parts may befseparated by inserting thekey Ginto thekeyhole d", and by turning in either direction the wings G,striking the inner faces of the tongues D, will separate themsufiiciently to release the stud I) and allow the button to be removedand a fresh cake applied andheld in the same manner.

The springtongues D arepreferably formed of a single strip ofspring-brass or score in the head D" by asingle pin I)", which .alsosecures the tubular extension ,1) to the head and makes a simple andinexpensive mode of fastening both. The buttons may be formed n largequantities by automatic machinery,

and 'thus inexpensively produced.

The flexible connection allows the soap cake ,to be readily held aside,if in the way, by simply winding the chain upon the bracket.

.to each other by its engagement within the lower end of the tubularextension D", and thus guards against efforts to effect separation byforcing the head in one direction or i the other sufficiently todisengage the tongue from the stud. The sprmg-tongues'Dare proteeted bythe inclosing tubular extension D and. are therefore not likely to beaccidentally broken or bent when the parts are in the separatedcondition.

I attach importance also tothe depression or hollow d" on the under faceof the button. It fills with soap during'the-process of molding andfurther increases the hold of the button upon the inclosing soap cakeand prevents change of position therein.

Although I have shown a spherical soap cake and prefer that shape, itwill be understood that thecakemay be of any shape, provided the lockingdevice conforms as to length and from the outer end of said bracket,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a soap cake formed with acavity therein, a button located within and inclosed by the soap andhaving a depression in its under face, a flange, and a conical studopposite said depression undercut below, a head having means whereby itmay be supported by a chain, a flange on said head, a tubular extensionfrom the latter, two spring-tongues having inwardly-projecting lipsincloscd in said extension and adapted to be separated by said stud andengagein said undercut, said extension being inserted in the cake andlocked thereto by the incloscd button, the said .head being providedwith a keyhole to permit the insertion of a key between saidspring-tongues to allow separation of said head and button when saidcake worn away, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth .1 aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. ROAKE. \Yitnesscs:

(JilAnLns R. SnAnLn, JonN GARRY.

